FBR to launch crackdown on illegal cigarette factories

• The prime minister issued the directive for action
• FBR has been directed to complete the track and trace system
• The Ministry of Finance and FBR briefed the prime minister

ISLAMABAD: On directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) In-Land Revenue Intelligence teams would launch a crackdown on illegal cigarette factories across the country, Bol News reported quoting sources as saying.

The prime minister issued the directive for action against the illegal manufacturers after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed reservation over stealing of taxes worth Rs80 billion through trade of illegal cigarettes.

The FBR has been directed to complete the track and trace system on all the cigarette manufacturing companies. The sources said that the report regarding the crackdown would also be shared with the IMF.

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The Ministry of Finance and FBR briefed the prime minister on trade of illegal cigarettes. The FBR would submit its monthly report of crackdown on illegal cigarettes to the Prime Minister Office.

The sources said more than two dozen cigarette manufacturing companies were still not included in the track and trace system.

On February 15, aession of the Senate started at the Parliament House in Islamabad with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had laid a copy of the “The Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023” in the House.

The chair had referred the bill to the standing committee concerned and adjourned the House to meet again .

Earlier, Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar had moved the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 or the “mini-budget” in the National Assembly as the government eagerly wants to meet the prerequisites for unlocking the $1.1 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.

Addressing the lower house of parliament, Dar had proposed the imposition of new taxes worth Rs 170 billion in various sectors to minimize the fiscal deficit of the current fiscal year 2022-23.